Adhikari Drops “Dham” from Digha Jagannath Temple Name

Bhubaneswar: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced the removal of the word “Dham” from the name of the Digha Jagannath temple, following strong objections from Odisha.

The temple will now be renamed Digha Jagannath Cultural Centre.

The decision comes after Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi urged Adhikari to drop the suffix, stressing that the sanctity of Jagannath Dham is exclusive to Puri.

Religious scholars, devotees, and socio‑cultural groups in Odisha had opposed the earlier nomenclature, arguing that it undermined spiritual traditions.

Puri MP Sambit Patra welcomed the move, calling it a respectful step toward preserving the sanctity of Jagannath Dham and honouring the sentiments of devotees.

The renaming is expected to ease tensions and strengthen cultural ties between Odisha and West Bengal.